I have bought a number of them, but I'm generally lees than happy about the lack of customization in FCP X. I like to be able to adjust text position independent of the graphics elements... the ability to scale, etc. Of course for lower thirds, the ability to use it on both sides would be nice.

In FCP 7, I had a lot of options for these things. In FCP X I get really nice animated titles, but usually can't turn off individual elements. For instance, if it has a glow, being able to turn off that part, while leaving the rest of the title would be nice. By that, I mean quick adjustments in FCP X.

So, I'm betting there are some out there that I haven't found... or perhaps some developer will make the mother of all title programs?

Mitch Ives
Insight Productions Corp.

"Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things." - Winston Churchill

I like rigs and the ability to publish out parameters. Rigs allow for quick changes with minimal fuss, and choosing which parameters you want to publish is a nice bonus. So me for Motion is the tool of choice.

[Mitch Ives]"In FCP 7, I had a lot of options for these things. In FCP X I get really nice animated titles, but usually can't turn off individual elements. For instance, if it has a glow, being able to turn off that part, while leaving the rest of the title would be nice. By that, I mean quick adjustments in FCP X."

You should be able to alter the look of all text on a character by character level. Just go to the text tab and adjust the glow, outline, drop shadow, etc.

But really, you should get Motion and get somewhat familiar with it, how to publish paramaters.. It is extremely powerful especially with text. And you can make templates so you can re-use them without having to reinvent the wheel. I've made my own lower third templates for our organization with tons of controls for modification available right in FCP X. They are static, cause I HATE animated lower thirds, but you could animate them too. I just wish Motion templates didn't make FCP X sluggish, but that's another story.